Standard American English: Is there an appropriate way to speak American English?

1. Standard American English:Is there an appropriate way to speak American English? By: Christina Harrison

2. American Standard English • “No single, universally accepted standard for how to speak or write American English”. • America’s midland often has the most neutral sounding accent.

3. Standard American dialect • Idealized dialect • The unaccented variety is taught by dialect coaches. • Only spoken by actors and professional communicators.

4. Where is American Standard Speech? • No where!! • Adopted by linguist William Tilly • Based “loosely” on the speech of the Northeast • “It was spoken by the cultured, well educated, well traveled people of the early 20th century”. • Often found in old movies: • Click to here to go to see an old movie example.

5. Formal Language Legislation? • United States has no official department of language • No plan on creating an official language • A universal standard American English is not likely to happen anytime soon.

6. What does this mean? “American Heritage suggests there's no single, universally accepted standard for how to speak or write American English. Even so, school systems, professional communicators and businesses all have standards and, not surprisingly, the rules (at least for grammar) do not vary dramatically from place to place. “

7. References (March 7, 2011). Do you speak America: Standard American English. PBS. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/standardamerican/. Brian Williams picture: flickr.com/photos/ari/5062693/ Movie clip: by: bigpimpdaddie, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhb3U2cONs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1